Chair bed



@&. 15, 1935, F, E, MOORE I 2,917,321 I CHAIR BED v Filed July 6, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. E. MOORE m 15, was.

CHAIR BED Filed July 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR @cfi. 15, 1935, F E. MOORE ZJIHZBZE CHAIR BED Filed Ju ly 6, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to chairs of the class embodying'structure effective of modification into a bed, chaise longue or the like, and more particularly involves improvements, as set forth hereemulating the structures described and claimed in the United States patent granted to me July 5, 1927, No. 1,636,551 and the pending application filed April 2, 1928, Serial Number 266,662.

The primary object of my invention is to provide, in a chair, or the like, of the character described, means automatically interactional between the main frame and the swing-back to provide automatic adjustment between the main frame and the swing-back by manual movement solely of the swing-back. My improved position stop does not require the use of auxiliary means such as latches, releases and such devices; that must be manually functioned coordinately with the disposed position relation of the swing-back to the main frame, and thus provides means of automatically securing the adjustable positions of the swing-back relative to the correlated members of the chair: the adjustable seat with the stool as an adjunct.

Another object of my invention is to provide the means, the resilient adjustable unit closure member or unit bottom, whereby the ensemble adjustment of the members forming the extensible seat of the chairthe unit filler or cushion and the stoolare arranged and maintained in positions afiording a plurality of dispositions for the comfort of the occupant when the chair is adjusted for a lounging attitude.

A further object is to provide means, assuring the modification adjustments characterized as above defined, adaptable for incorporation in all period designs of chairs without detracting from the appearance or modifying the general design of the period chair, or the like, embodying the invention.

Another object is to provide as one of the modifications of adjustment of the filler cushion and the extension stool, an adjustable position of these members wherein they are coactive to form a more than ordinarily amplified double inclined support, apex upward, for the support of the lower limbs of the occupant, flexed to a marked degree, yet sustained their entire length in a comfortably resting position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention subsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereunto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 5

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device depicting the relation of the members when functioning as a chair.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device de- 10 picting the disposition relation of members when functioning as a couch.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device depicting a disposition of the members in a novel manner forming a modified chaise longue. 5

Figure 4 is a side elevation, part sectional, of one of the swing-back connectors and position stops.

Figure 5 is a part sectional view on line 55 of Figure 4. .1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary schematic detail depicting the automatic cycle of relation and interoperative action of one unit of the swing-back connector and theresilient detent or deflector. I

Figure '7 is a section on line 1-7 of Figure 6. 5

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the unit adjustable resilient bottom of the chair and a detached fragmentary portion of the stool.

Figure .9 is a longitudinal part-section on line 99 of Figure 8, showing an elevated, or second 30 position, disposition of the unit adjustable bottom and the correlated stool.

Figure 10 is a detail view of one of the escutcheon-like guide plates with parts conserving the functions of adjustability of the unit bottom as 35.

set stop means.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the adaptation of two resilient detent members to theposition stop.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary schematic view 4 of a position stop and the telltale therefore.

As a chair-bed, my invention comprises four main members forming an ensemble wherein the position relation of these members to each other and the means whereby these relations are at- 5 tained and maintained constitute the subject matter of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device consists of the main frame A, the swing-back B, the extension or extensible stool C and the filler 50 or cushion D.

The main frame A consists of the side frames l embodying the arms 2, united to the frame I by the back post 3 and maintained in desired spaced relationby the rear spreader 4 and the 5 back is widened to overlap the upper extremity of the back posts 3 and junction of the arms 2 and form a flush or extended finish of the chair back relative to the main frame A. The lower extrem ity of the swing-back B is opposedly trunnioned to swing on the pins I secured in the frame I, in any suitable manner, and adapted to rotate in holes provided in the back post 3 and in aligned holes in the fixed members of the swing-back position stops E, positionedon each side of the main frame A, Figures 4, and 8.

The automatic position stop E consists of the stop means proper II, and a connector I2, illustrated in adaptable form Figures 4 and 5. The term automatic specifically defines a position stop interactively operative between the main frame member and the swing-back member to obtain and maintain relative adjustable positions of these members by movement solely of the swing-back member.

As the automatic position stops, one on each side of the swing-back, are identical, a description of the one will serve for the other.

The position stop consists of two coacting members, it being obvious that either may be constituted the fixed member, and that a single notched slot member mounting the related parts will function similarly to the two parallel plate construction shown.

As illustrated the fixed member II consists of two segmental plates I3-I3 maintained in parallel spaced relation by stay rivets I4, Figure 4, and others designated later. The segmental plates I3 are provided at one apex with a hole I5 adapted to receive the trunnion pins II] previously described. The plates I3-I3, as a unit, one on each side of the mainframe I are secured thereto in aligned opposed position, by suitable means, as screws in the holes I 6. hole I5 the plates I3I3 are provided with the arcuate slots Il having the desired number of stop notches I8 in the one edge thereof. Opposite each of the plurality of stop notches I8, is positioned the resilient detent or deflector I9 purposed to function to, in the one instance of movement of theconnector I2; shunt the connector into respective stop notches I8, and in another instance of movement of the connector; by-pass the connector relative to respective notches I8. The functioning of the detents I9 relative to the respective stop notches I8 depends upon the amplitude of the movement solely of the connector I2 and a property imparted to the connector. This property of the connector I2 'subsists in causing the guide means, as the pinZIl integral with the connector and engaging the slot II, to be maintained in forced contact with the side of the slot II opposite the notches I8.

The resilient detent or'defiector I 9 is illustrated as made of spring wire formed as a substantially one and one half turn spiral spring coil 2 I, the one end thereof prolonged as a tangential extension 22 and the other end bent to a semiradial short extension 23 which, in order to pro- Centered on the vide a substantial wearing surface is bent back or doubled on itself a short distance in a. plane parallel to the axis of the spiral coil portion 2 I. The coil portion 2| of the detents I9 is rotatably mounted between the plates 53-43 on the stay rivets 24 positioned opposite the notches I8, relative thereto and the slot IT, to function therewith and with the connector I 2, as later described.

The connector 52 of suitable material, as a steel bar, and of the form desired, illustrated as a straight bar, is mounted at one end forcibly rotatable (on means securing this end to the swingback B) in a plane parallel and between the plates I3I3 of member I I. As illustrated the forcibly rotatable functions above defined are obtained by providing the connector with the bore 21 through which a tight fitting screw 28 extends into the plate 29 which is secured to the swing-back frame work 8, by screws in the holes 3%. To provide additional V friction and conserve the function of forcible rotation of the connector I2 on the pivot 28 a resilient rub plate 3I interacts between the plate'29 and the connector I2. The end of the connector I2 engaged between the plates I3I3, .and forcibly movable in the plane thereof, is provided with guide means engaging the slot II, as the pin 26 adaptable also to engage the stop notches IS. The extremity of the connector I 2, surrounding the pin 20, has a perimeter, hookshaped in form, the angular surfaces thereof facing the detents I9 and coactive therewith.

Attention is directed to Figure 6 illustrating a cycle of functions of the coactive parts; the stop notched slot, the resilient detent and the connector. It is apparent that, in the structure shown, the resilient detent is forced to exercise the quality of resiliency only within fixed limits determined by the stop pins 32 engaging the extension 22 of the detent otherwise free to oscillate on the stay rivet 24. The several illustrations of Figure 6 are designated as b, c, d and e and so referred to. In b the guide pin 20 of the connector I2 (hereinafter referred to simply as the connector) engages the stop notch I8 maintaining a stop position of the connector in a direction toward the closed end of the notch I8. Movement of the connector, in the direction of the arrow or open end of the notch causes it to slide out of the notch I8 into the slot H.

For all relative positions of the connector and the detent the coactive functions are positive and independent of the action of gravity although positions of the detent resulting from gravitational action do not alter the continuity of positive coaction of the parts for the following reason.

As illustrated in b the dotted line position of the detent is that which would result from the weight of the extension 22 rotating the detent on the stay rivet 24. This position of the detent is, however, that shown in c as requisite to perform the function of by-passing the connector as shown in positions relative thereto from b to c. In d the dotted line position of the detent, gravitationally effected, is the position requisite to shunt the connector, shown relative thereto in the dotted and full line positions.

The positive feature of coaction of the detent and connector resides in the positioning of parts such that the faces of the point of the hook of the connector engages the detent when moved toward it from any one of the three paths of approach of the connector, determined by the two branches of the slot I1 relativeto the notch I8.

To by-pass a position stop notch I8 (shown engaged in b) the connector, and connected parts as the swing-back B, is first moved inthe direction of the arrow in b to the position in c. As above described the guide (as the pin 20) of the connector'is maintained in forced contact, when so positioned, with the edge of the slot 11 opposite the notches I8. In moving the connector out of engagement with the notch 18 the guide (as the pin 20) of the connector is, as above described, forcefully positioned and maintained in a position out of the path of engagement of the notch l8, as in c, and a movement of the connector in thedirection of the arrow (the reverse of that in b) by-passes the connector with respect to the stop notch.

As illustrated and described the by-pass movement of the connector is effected by first moving the connector from a stop notch position, as at b, to that of c then moving the connector in a direction the reverse of the first movement.

The shunting or notch engaging movement of the connector is efiected as follows. In the illustrations c and d it is evident that movement of the connector toward the detent; as guided by the pin 20 in the slot I! which maintains the respective faces of the hook in a path of contact with the resilient detent extension 23, will cause the detent to exercise the function of resiliency without limits effected by the stop pins 32. It is evident that continuation of the movement of the connector, disengaging the notch as from b to 0, causes the detent to function resiliently and pass the hook to the dotted position in d, and that a reversal of movement causes the detent to exercise the function of resiliency, illustrated in e, and shunt the connector to enter engagement with the stop notch I8. Continued movement of the connector (as in e) to engagement with the heel of the notch releases the detent, and the relation of parts, the detent and connector, becomes that illustrated in b completing a cycle of operations designed as by-passing or shunting the connector.

It is apparent that in the event of a movement of the connector, through a successive number of stop notch positions, in a direction toward the heel of the stop notches the successive detents inherently shunt the connector into respective notches, out of which they are disengaged by operation in the manner described as by-passing. It is further apparent that in movement of the connector in the reverse direction, away from the heel of the notches, the movement is not one of steps but continuous, the connector hook simply snapping past the detents.

From the foregoing description of the automatic position stop it is evident that the connector i2, the one end thereof secured as described to the swing-back B, is functioned by: movement solely of the swing-back. The manner and amplitude of movement of the connector causes it to either engage or be released from a position stop (as desired) for adjustment of the swing-back in any one of the positions provided, as illustrated by dotted line positions w, as and y, Figure 2. Position 2, as that of the swing-back forming a couch, is obtained by by-passing the connector out of the stop position y (the last of the series of stop notches I8 as provided in the illustrating member II) and the couch forming position of the connector and swing-back is maintained by the guide pin 2!] engaging the termination of the slot H, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The resilient adjustable unit closure member or unit adjustable bottom 33 consists of a frame 34, Figure 8, of suitable material as angle iron, adapted to fit between the sides 35 of the main frame A, Figure 8. The frame 34 is provided with a suitable resilient seat structure 36 as coil springs and connecting links, well known in the art, and requiring no further description. The unit adjustable bottom 33 is adapted to sustain, when the stool is extended, the cushion or filler D in any one of a plurality of positions desired. The bottom 33 is provided with guides (as the lug pins 31 and 38 Figures 8 and 9) that engage set stop means secured to the main frame A. The lug pins 3'! and 38 project laterally into the slots 39 and 40 provided with the notches 4| and 42-43 respectively of the escutcheon-like guide plates 44 and 45. These platesas set stop means-are secured (by suitable means as screws in the holes 46) to the inside of the members 35 of the main frame in opposed aligned position with the slots 39 and 40 in a vertical position. The slot and notch position of the plates 44 and 45, Figures 2, 3 and 10, is upset to form a recess 4'! to accommodate movement of the head of the guide pins, as pin 31, without recourse to grooving the side members 35.

The unit adjustable bottom 33 may be manually positioned in any one of a plurality of adjustment positions illustrated as any one of three set stop positions, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 9. In Figure 1, the bottom 33 is positioned with the guide pins 31 and 38 sustained by the bottom of the slots 39 and 4B and when so adjusted forms, with the superimposed extensions stool C and the filler D, a conventional chair seat. In Figures 2 and 9, the set stop position of the bottom 33 is that adaptable to form; in conjunction with the filler D, the extensible stool C and the swing-back B, a chair bed or chaise longue. In Figure 3, the set stop position of the bottom 33 forms, in conjunction with the extension stool C a chaise longue seat of novel form for the purpose described.

It is evident that the set stop positions of the unit bottom 33, Figures 2, 3 and 9, are obtained by manually withdrawing the extension stool C, carrying the filler D, then grasping the seat member 36 and raising and positioning the bottom 33 with the guide pins 31 and 38 engaging the stop notches of the position desired.

The unit upholstered slideably extensible member C is termed a stool as designative of a twofold utilization: a seat, when in the retracted position, and a support for the feet of the occupant when extended. The unit stool C is complete in itself requiring no complemental adjuncts, as cushions, to forma comfortable upholstered support for the lower limbs of the occupant, when the stool is extended. The extension stool C consists of a frame, upholstered as a unit, adapted: to fit between the sides 35 of the main frame A, and to be manually extensible and retractible therein. The stool C is further adapted to slide over the unit bottom 33, and to be supported thereby in each of the relative positions of the unit bottom and the concomitantly disposed stool positions.

The stool C is provided with legs 48 and the extension of the stool, when drawn out of the main frame, is limited by the webbing straps 49, Figures 8 and 9. The one extremity of the straps 48 is secured to the frame of the stool, as by tacking, the other being secured, as by the stitched loop 50, to the rear bar of the frame 34. In the retracted position of the stool the webbing members 49 fold upon themselves shown in Figure 1. In the extended positions of the stool the front is supported by the legs 48 and the rear thereof rests upon and is supported by the front portion of the unit adjustable bottom 33. Additional security, as a supporting feature, is obtained by the projecting lugs 5 I. As the retracted position of the stool C is substantially horizontal (Figure 1) and the length of the leg-s 48 proportional to this position, it is apparent that, in consequence of the rear of the stool-when'extended-being supported by the unit adjustable bottom 33, any elevation of the bottom 33 will tilt the stool in a corresponding degree. By this means the coinclined positions of the unit adjustable bottom 33 and the stool C, with the adjunctive filler D, are obtained to form the several positions of a chaise longue seat member.

As a method of construction prolonging the usefulness of the swing-back position stop, two of the resilient detent members l9 are mounted side by side on the stay rivets 24, Figure 11. The pair of detents function in the same manner as described for the one detent l9 shown in the analogous view, Figure '7. a

It is apparent that the movement of the swingback B; effecting movement of the connector [2 to approximately the position shown in Figure 6, 0", conserves the function of by-passing and that the requisite movement is one of degree as to amplitude. In practice this movement has been found readily obtainable, more especially as the resilient detent offers resistance to movement of the connector past that of maximum de- *gree Figure 6, c effecting the by-passing opermember as a flat bar spring one end thereof fixedly secured, as by the rivets 53, to the position stop member I I. The free end 54is V-shaped cross sectionally and is positioned to engage, press upon and interrupt movement of the head 55 of the connector guide pin 20 when the guide has reached the correct position (with relation to respective stop notches and detents Figure 6, c) for by-passing the connector. The resiliency of the telltale is proportioned to offer perceptible .interceptive resistance to the passage of the head 55 of the pin 20, but not such a resistance as will prevent additionally forceful effort (applied to the connector) from entirely passing the head of the pin 20, in either direction, to other positions of a movement cycle.

I claim:

1. In a chair, a main frame, a swing-back adjustably connected to the main frame, a verof a plurality of positions, a longitudinally movable stool having legs at its forward end and supported at all times by said adjustable bottom at its rearward end, and a cushion adapted to lie on said stool when said stool overlies said adjustable bottom or on said adjustable bottom when saidstool is in. the extended position.

3. In a chair, a main frame, a vertically adjustable bottom in the main frame, means on said mainframe adapted to guide said adjustable bottomand support it in any one of a plurality of positions, a longitudinally slidable member having legs at its forward end said member overlying said adjustable bottom and supported thereby when in the retracted position, means limiting the forward movement of said slidable member to the extended position, said adjustable bottom forming the support for the rear end of said slidable member and a filler cushion adapted to fit ontop of said slidable member when it is in the retracted position and to fit on said adjustable bottom when said slidable member is in the extended position.

4. In a chair, a main frame, an extension frame extensible from the main frame, a resilient support in the main frame, the extension frame when in extended position being supported near one edge by an edge of the resilient support, an auxiliary cushion adapted to overlie the extension frame when the extension frame overlies the main frame and to overlie the resilient support when the extension frame is extended, and means for adjusting the position of the resilient support in the main frame, to provide various positions of the seat when the extension frame is extended,- comprising means forming notched slots, and pins receivable in the notches, said extension frame being slidable upon said main frame to retracted position in which it overlies and is supported by said resilient support.

. FRED E. MOORE. 

